DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – West Coast breaks from post 9 as the favorite Saturday night in the Group 1, $10 million Dubai World Cup.

West Coast will have Thunder Snow outside him, eight rivals to his inside, and Javier Castellano on his back when the field assembles in the starting gate about 12:50 p.m. Eastern on Saturday. West Coast is odds-on with overseas bookmakers to give trainer Bob Baffert his fourth World Cup and second in a row, and land Castellano in the winner’s circle for the first time after the main event here.

Baffert had no problem with the draw, which actually seems ideal for a bulky horse whose best asset is his high cruising speed, and who probably would be best suited by a clear trip pressing or stalking on the outside.

“Everybody wants the 1 here – I do not like the 1 hole,” Baffert said. “We have a fast horse. From the outside, if they break a little slow they’re not going to be in trouble. A big horse like that you want to keep him in the clear.”

Connections were randomly selected to some forward and choose a piece of statuary inside of which was a draw number. Baffert went up early in the process with West Coast, but only two statues remained when it was time to draw Mubtaahij’s post. Mubtaahij got post 5, with Pavel assigned post eight, just inside West Coast.

“I just didn’t want them to draw next to each other,” said Baffert. “I hate when my horses draw next to each other.”

Forever Unbridled drew post 6, which doesn’t really matter, since she’s dropping back to come with a later run.

“It’s fine, but what I’m most happy about is the way she’s doing,” said trainer Dallas Stewart.

Gunnevera, the other American horse in the race, breaks from post 3. Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Talismanic has post 7 for his dirt debut, the Japanese horse Awardee post 1, and another mare, Furia Cruzada, post 4. North America, who could be a live horse at a fair price, will break from post 2. He led all the way sharply winning the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 on March 10, and surely is bound for the lead again Saturday under Richard Mullen.

“We wanted 1, 2, or 3. It’s the perfect draw for him,” said trainer Satish Seemar.

Another trainer, like Baffert, less than enamored of post 1 is Chad Summers, and a year after Mind Your Biscuits won the $2 million Golden Shaheen from post 14, he’ll have to do so from the rail Saturday night. Meanwhile, main rivals X Y Jet (post 2) and Roy H (post 6) got good draws.

“Dreamy – I mean that,” said Kent Desormeaux, who rides Roy H, one of the shorter-priced horses on the card.

Jordan Sport, the one horse that might try to go with X Y Jet on the lead, drew post 9. Muarrab was scratched lame before the post draw.

Rey De Oro, among the favorites for the $6 million Sheema Classic, drew post 3, a good spot for a hold-up horse.

“He s a bit of a slow starter, so I will be probably in the back of the field,” said jockey Christophe Lemaire. “I can’t rush him because he’ll grab the bit and that’s what I don’t want.”

Other prominent draws in the 2400-meter Sheema, which got 10 entrants, are Cloth of Stars in post 6, Hawkbill in post 7, and Satono Crown in 8.

Fifteen are in the $6 million Dubai Turf over 1800 meters, with the race’s 2017 winner Vivlos drawn in post 7, 2016 winner Real Steel immediately to her outside. Benbatl, who trainer Saeed bin Suroor calls his best chance at a win Saturday night, breaks from post 4. The capable  Japanese horse Neorealism has post 2, with Lancaster Bomber in 12.

Likely favorite Blue Point drew post 13 for the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint, a good spot in this straight-course turf race over 1200 meters (about 6 furlongs). Fourteen are entered after the front-running Ertijaal was withdrawn late Wednesday morning with an injury, and his absence helps the chances of the American horse Conquest Tsunami, who will try for the lead from a favorable draw in 9. Peter Miller starts Conquest Tsunami as well as Stormy Liberal (5) and Richard’s Boy (7).  Jungle Cat, a sharp winner of his last two, including the Al Quoz prep, has post 10.

The other four races on the card – the UAE Derby, the Godolphin Mile, the Dubai Gold Cup, and the Kahayla Classic for purebred Arabians, had post positions allotted after being drawn Monday.